Man convicted of killing Forks woman tries again for new trial

Judge's recent decision on character witnesses disputed.

Brandon Bloss contends a judge erred by ruling the convicted murderer knew he had a right to have character witnesses testify on his behalf, so he's trying again to get another trial.

Bloss, 31, and his ex-wife, Michelle Hetzel, 24, are serving life sentences without possibility of parole for the throat-slashing death of Devon Guzman of Forks Township. Guzman was Hetzel's lesbian lover.

Northampton County Judge Edward G. Smith several weeks ago rejected Bloss' claim that he didn't fully understand his right to present testimony about his reputation as a truthful, peaceful, law-abiding person.

Attorney Michael P. Gough of Allentown represents Bloss in his appeal. On Friday, he filed a legal motion asking that Smith reconsider his opinion and grant Bloss a new trial. In the motion, Gough says Smith was wrong to conclude that Bloss knew all the facts "upon which the decision to call character witnesses could be based in order to make an informed decision."

District Attorney John M. Morganelli, who prosecuted Bloss and Hetzel, did not have rebuttal witnesses to counter any good things Bloss' character witnesses could have told the jury.

Therefore, Gough's motion says, "there could have been no harm whatsoever to the defense in presenting such evidence and no competent lawyer would have chosen to forego presenting it."

The trial attorneys were Kepler Funk and Keith F. Szachacz of Melbourne, Fla., and attorney Robert Sletvold of Easton. Sletvold testified at a hearing that the lawyers during trial discussed with Bloss the advantages and disadvantages of using character witnesses.

A hearing on Gough's latest motion has not been set.

Guzman's body was found June 15, 2000, in the back seat of her car, parked at the former canal park museum along Route 611 in Easton. Although the 19-year-old's throat had been slashed, police found very little blood in the car and concluded the scene had been staged.

Hetzel testified at trial that Bloss acted alone in murdering Guzman. Morganelli said the couple acted in concert in luring Guzman to their home and killing her.